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ICSE 2021
Mon 17 May - Sat 5 June 2021

Testing Technical Debt (TTD) occurs due to shortcuts (non-optimal decisions) taken about testing; it is the test dimension of technical debt. R is a package-based programming ecosystem that provides an easy way to install third-party code, datasets, tests, documentation and examples. R’s package structure makes it especially vulnerable to TTD because errors present in a package can transitively affect all packages and scripts that depend on it. Thus, R packages’ TTD can effectively become a threat to the validity of all analysis written in R that rely on potentially faulty code. This two-part study provides the first analysis in this area. First, 177 systematically-selected, open-source R packages were mined and analysed to address quality of testing, testing goals, and identify potential TTD sources. Second, a survey addressed how R package developers perceive testing and face its challenges (response rate of 19.4%). Results show that testing in R packages does not have good quality; the most common smells are inadequate and obscure unit testing, improper asserts, inexperienced testes and improper test design. Furthermore, skilled developers still face challenges such as time constraints, emphasis on development rather than testing, poor tool documentation and a steep learning curve.

Fri 28 May

Displayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change

11:30 - 12:30
4.2.3. Testing: 3rd Party SoftwareJournal-First Papers / Technical Track at Blended Sessions Room 3 +12h
Chair(s): Leonardo Mariani University of Milano Bicocca
11:30
20m
Paper
Evaluating Unit Testing Practices in R PackagesTechnical Track
Technical Track
Melina Vidoni RMIT University
Pre-print Media Attached
11:50
20m
Paper
Data-Oriented Differential Testing of Object-Relational Mapping SystemsArtifact ReusableTechnical TrackArtifact Available
Technical Track
Thodoris Sotiropoulos Athens University of Economics and Business, Stefanos Chaliasos Athens University of Economics and Business, Vaggelis Atlidakis Columbia University, Dimitris Mitropoulos National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Diomidis Spinellis Athens University of Economics and Business & TU Delft
Pre-print Media Attached
12:10
20m
Paper
A Practical Approach to Verification of Floating-Point C/C++ Programs with math.h/cmath FunctionsJournal-First
Journal-First Papers
Roberto Bagnara University of Parma, BUGSENG srl, Michele Chiari Politecnico di Milano, Roberta Gori University of Pisa, Abramo Bagnara BUGSENG srl
Link to publication DOI Pre-print Media Attached
23:30 - 00:30
4.2.3. Testing: 3rd Party SoftwareTechnical Track / Journal-First Papers at Blended Sessions Room 3
23:30
20m
Paper
Evaluating Unit Testing Practices in R PackagesTechnical Track
Technical Track
Melina Vidoni RMIT University
Pre-print Media Attached
23:50
20m
Paper
Data-Oriented Differential Testing of Object-Relational Mapping SystemsArtifact ReusableTechnical TrackArtifact Available
Technical Track
Thodoris Sotiropoulos Athens University of Economics and Business, Stefanos Chaliasos Athens University of Economics and Business, Vaggelis Atlidakis Columbia University, Dimitris Mitropoulos National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Diomidis Spinellis Athens University of Economics and Business & TU Delft
Pre-print Media Attached
00:10
20m
Paper
A Practical Approach to Verification of Floating-Point C/C++ Programs with math.h/cmath FunctionsJournal-First
Journal-First Papers
Roberto Bagnara University of Parma, BUGSENG srl, Michele Chiari Politecnico di Milano, Roberta Gori University of Pisa, Abramo Bagnara BUGSENG srl
Link to publication DOI Pre-print Media Attached